[CMA] More on Refugee Week Radio

[Cathy Aitchison]

Hello again

Just to emphasise that although based in London, Refugee Week Radio is open
to all, wherever you are in the country.
see http://www.refugeeweekradio.net
see also our entry on the Refugee Week website http://www.refugeeweek.org.uk
(it may not be up there as an event yet, although there is a link from the
front page)

Last year we broadcast live (online) on all seven days, Mon-Fri from Desi
Radio in
Southall, and Sat-Sun from a temporary studio at Hillwood Age Concern Centre 
in
Camden.  We had contributions and volunteers from several stations, colleges
and organisations, including East Leeds FM,
Preston FM, Aik Saath (Slough), Children's Express (now Headliners),
Colourful Radio, Lambeth College and City University.

This year, we are delighted to be partnering with Open Air, the community
radio station from SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies, University
of London).  They are kindly hosting the live programmes and supplying some
of the volunteers.  Desi Radio is a partner again this year, and Sound Radio
in Hackney will be broadcasting some of our material in their scheduled
programmes across the week.

One of the aims is to publicise events taking place around the country as
part of Refugee Week - for this, we have an entry on the Refugee Week
website, where people can download then send us their form. (Follow the link
on the Events page here:  http://www.refugeeweek.org.uk/Events/ )  We try 
and cover not just the event, but also the day-to-day work of the 
organisation (see below).

Last year we also made a series of themed programmes - this year we plan to
do a similar series, hopefully to make available before Refugee Week, but if
not, then during (and afterwards as podcasts).  See
http://www.refugeeweekradio.net/progthemes.htm then download the Pdfs.

Would you like to join in?
--------------------------
We would be delighted if more community radio stations around
the country can join us as partners, especially if they can create some 
material
BEFORE Refugee Week which can then be broadcast and shared widely during the
week itself.

For example - are there any stations in Kent who would like to do so?  We
have a couple of forms in already, one from a writer and another from a 
refugee support
organisation in Kent.  We want to prerecord these so the interviews/packages 
can be shared.

If any stations have links with schools or youth groups, we would welcome
material from children and young people about their views on becoming a
refugee as a child - including any who have direct experience of doing so. 
Again, prerecorded to be shared would be ideal.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
With best wishes
Cathy Aitchison
Refugee Week Radio/London Link Radio
http://www.refugeeweekradio.net
http://www.londonlinkradio.net (the lead partner)
http://www.womeninradio.org.uk (also a partner)

Refugee Week key messages this year:
- celebrating the valuable contribution which refugees make to the UK -
whether in art, science, business or daily life.
- raising awareness of the fact that people who are forced to leave
their homes due to unjust harassment or the threat of imprisonment or death
have no choice.
- many refugees around the world are children, who, facing torture,
human rights abuses, imprisonment, ethnic cleansing and genocide, leave
their homes and families to find safety in a strange land.